perform_transition

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations provided; description mentions mutation (perform transition) and optional comment. Lacks details on side effects, permissions, or reversibility, but provides basic behavioral context.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Four sentences, front-loaded with purpose. Arguments listed clearly with concise explanations. No redundant information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given 3 parameters, no annotations, and presence of output schema, description covers parameter semantics, usage flow, and purpose. Could mention return behavior briefly, but output schema handles that.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 0%, but description adds meaning: issue_id_or_key explained with example format, transition_id noted as numeric, comment optional. Compensates well for absence of schema descriptions.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Description clearly states the tool performs a workflow transition on a customer request with examples (resolve, close). It differentiates from siblings by explicitly referencing the required precursor call to list_customer_transitions.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Explicitly instructs to call list_customer_transitions first to discover transition IDs, providing clear when-to-use guidance. No alternative usage is implied.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.